How is this greener?
15/10/07 19:27 Filed in: Misc
Defra denies UHT milk switch plan:"The government
denies wanting people to switch from fresh to
long-life milk to reduce energy usage."
(Via BBC News.)
(Via BBC News.)
Okay, I realise this story is clearly just sort of
story that the tabloids use to stir up an argument
and and increase circulation (a tactic which, sadly
BBC news is using more and more now days), but I just
couldn't resist making comment on it.
So UHT milk is allegedly greener? But how is this the case, I ask my self?
The cows have already produced their contribution to greenhouse gasses. The milk will still be transported in the same way and in fact the heat treatment will consume more energy than would be needed for 'normal' pasteurised milk. And at the end of the day they say that less energy will be needed to store it since it doesn't need to be refrigerated till it's opened.
Well yes I admit this is true, but the amount saved must be very small when you consider that people are unlikely to buy milk in bulk. If they did they did, say buy 20 litters of milk at a time and then just open a 2 litter carton when needed, then there might be bigger savings, but even then I suspect they wouldn't be that large.
Okay maybe the difference countrywide might be significant if every one used UHT, but I not as big as if say people closed the fridge door when they got the milk out. This is one of my pet hates.
At work people are forever doing this. They get the milk out to make tea and then leave the door open while the fill the cups. Okay so it's not open for that long maybe 30 or 40 seconds, but that fridge door is a large opening considering the total volume of the fridge. It's not like it's difficult to close the door and then re-open it once your done. If every one did this a I bet the total energy savings would be more than if we switched to UHT.
If that ever happened...well I have no idea what I would do. I can't stand the stuff!
Okay so this has been a bit of rant and also my first post for 15 days! But things will get back normal (some time soon!)
So UHT milk is allegedly greener? But how is this the case, I ask my self?
The cows have already produced their contribution to greenhouse gasses. The milk will still be transported in the same way and in fact the heat treatment will consume more energy than would be needed for 'normal' pasteurised milk. And at the end of the day they say that less energy will be needed to store it since it doesn't need to be refrigerated till it's opened.
Well yes I admit this is true, but the amount saved must be very small when you consider that people are unlikely to buy milk in bulk. If they did they did, say buy 20 litters of milk at a time and then just open a 2 litter carton when needed, then there might be bigger savings, but even then I suspect they wouldn't be that large.
Okay maybe the difference countrywide might be significant if every one used UHT, but I not as big as if say people closed the fridge door when they got the milk out. This is one of my pet hates.
At work people are forever doing this. They get the milk out to make tea and then leave the door open while the fill the cups. Okay so it's not open for that long maybe 30 or 40 seconds, but that fridge door is a large opening considering the total volume of the fridge. It's not like it's difficult to close the door and then re-open it once your done. If every one did this a I bet the total energy savings would be more than if we switched to UHT.
If that ever happened...well I have no idea what I would do. I can't stand the stuff!
Okay so this has been a bit of rant and also my first post for 15 days! But things will get back normal (some time soon!)
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